College programs get $800,000 in funding (updated)

NEWS RELEASES SAULT COLLEGE AND DAVID ORAZIETTI *************************** Sault College Receives Funding for Major Projects In an announcement today from the Honourable David Orazietti, MPP, Sault College has received a total of $799,566 to help wi

In an announcement today from the Honourable David Orazietti, MPP, Sault College has received a total of $799,566 to help with major College projects and enhancements to the learning experiences for students.

From the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund, Sault College received $186,500 for classroom upgrades for the Digital Film Production program.

The funding will assist with creating editing suites, secure equipment rooms as well as purchase new equipment.

In addition, upgrades to the program involve the creation of an exciting Industry Production Hub on campus for visiting films.

“Sault Ste. Marie’s growing reputation as a filming hotspot for the entertainment industry has extended to include Sault College in recent years,” notes Candice Day, instructor in the Digital Film Production program.

“The development of a production hub allows for student internships and fosters links to industry partnerships with on-site production offices.

This is a remarkable training opportunity that will take advantage of the unique location that the Sault, Algoma region and College provide. It’s a much-needed facility that will serve a very interested niche in our community.”

Additionally, from the Ministry of Economic Development, Trade and Employment, Sault College received $347,066 for its Youth Entrepreneurship Skills (YES) Project for youth facing multiple barriers to self-employment.

“The YES project is slated to run from July 2014 to June 2015 and will provide high-touch entrepreneurship training with specialized mentorship for youth that will help them launch self-employment and small business ventures,” notes John Coccimiglio, Applied Research and Innovation Manager at the College.

“The project will provide opportunities for successful participants to access micro-grants and be implemented across seven Northern communities from East Algoma to Wawa that include four Aboriginal communities. We are grateful to have received this funding to assist us with program development and delivery.”

Additionally, from the Ontario Women’s Directorate, a program promoting women’s equality, $266,000 has been secured for skilled trades training for Aboriginal Women.

The two main priorities of the Directorate are to promote economic security for women and to end violence against women.

“Sault College, in partnership with Garden River First Nation, will be offering a Heavy Equipment Operator Training Program for women through this fund,” notes Ted Newbery, Acting Chair of the School of Continuing Education at Sault College.

“We will recruit, prepare and train 20 women to work in this traditionally underrepresented field. The project will also provide certification training in First Aid/CPR, Fall Protection and WHMIS to enhance the graduates employability. We anticipate two flexible start dates in the spring and summer of 2015.”

Sault College wishes to express our gratitude to our Honourable MPP David Orazietti, the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund, the Ministry of Economic Development, Trade and Employment and The Ontario Women’s Directorate for the generous funding to keep it on the leading edge of post-secondary learning.

“These investments will help support significant projects at our College and enhance the learning experiences of our students,” notes Dr. Common, President of Sault College.

“This important funding will enrich programming and course delivery for our students, drive community and economic development and meet the increasing demand for skilled trades training for all students, including Aboriginal women. Thank you to the Ontario government for their continual support and generous contributions to the growth and success of our College.”

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Continued Provincial Investment in Local Post-Secondary Institutions Boosting Enrollment

David Orazietti MPP was at Sault College today announcing a provincial investment of $799,566 to support local job training, youth entrepreneurship and classroom upgrades for a new program.

"Supporting our local post-secondary schools and improving their infrastructure, academic programs and upgrading important teaching equipment is strengthening our economy and creating jobs,” said Orazietti. “Today’s investment further reinforces our government’s commitment to helping more students get the post-secondary education they need to be successful.”

The $799,566 investment for Sault College is being provided through the following Ministries: Economic Development, Trade and Employment (MEDTE); Ontario Women’s Directorate (OWD) and the Northern Development and Mines/Northern Ontario Heritage Fund (NOHFC) and includes:

$347,066 - MEDTE’s Strategic Community Entrepreneurship Projects (SCEP) program for the college’s Youth Entrepreneurship Skills (YES) project which will provide specialized mentorship for youth in order to launch self-employment and business ventures

$186,500 - NOHFC for the upgrading of classroom facilities to create editing suites, production office and storage space for the new Digital Film Production program

“These investments will help support significant projects at our College and enhance the learning experiences of our students,” said Dr. Common, President of Sault College.

“This important funding will enrich programming and course delivery for our students, drive community and economic development and meet the increasing demand for skilled trades training for all students, including Aboriginal women. Together these announcements will help us to continue to be a leading educator in the post-secondary field related to Aboriginal education. Thank you to the Ontario government for their continual support and generous contributions to the growth and success of our College.”